The Varese race will see the start of 96 modern and six historic cars; the crews will fly four different flags: in addition to Italy, Switzerland, France, and Poland will be represented. The race will take place on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd March.
With the drafting and publication of the entry list, the Rally dei Laghi 2025 officially enters the hottest hours, those that mark the last vibrant countdown before the start located, this year, in the splendid Maccagno on the shores of Lake Maggiore.
The numbers, with 96 modern cars and six historic ones, still tell of a success that the Asd Rally dei Laghi adds to those of past editions: “Confirming ourselves with over one hundred registered was not easy, but we are really happy: it is a goal that repays us for the great efforts made to organize this rally,” says Andrea Sabella.
Crugnola against all
Of the sixteen Rally2 cars – the candidates for success – the clear favorite is Andrea Crugnola, four-time Italian champion who triumphed last year at the Laghi before starting the great ride that led him to win yet another tricolor; together with him, the other Varese Andrea Sassi always on Citroen C3 Rally2 of FPF Sport. The rivals in search of glory will probably all be “made in Varese,” with the Volkswagen Polo of Giò Dipalma and Andrea Spataro in the front line: between them, they boast three successes from 2018 to today. The Skoda army will be led by Giuseppe Freguglia from Besnate, who, with four successes at the Laghi, winks at Ogliari’s record (5). Simone Miele, first in 2016, is another of those who is aiming for the podium to best prepare his season in the TIR while the 26-year-old Riccardo Pederzani, still waiting for his “first” victory, is preparing for the big jump without pressure on him. Outsiders looking for the podium could be Alessandro Ripoli from Varese or Filippo Pensotti from Laveno. From outside the province, Alessandro Re (VW Polo) from Como will want to try to repeat the success of his father Felice in 1998. Locatelli from Bergamo will show off the three-cylinder Toyota Yaris Gr that will surely thrill the public.
Among the two-wheel drives, some drivers in different categories will want to aim for supremacy. First of all, those of the S1600 where the Maran brothers (first in the group on Sunday at the Ronde del Canavese) will have to deal with Vagliani and Fusetti. But watch out for the Peugeot turbos: Cambiaghi’s 208 is ready to repeat last year’s “garone” as is Di Nunzio from Cugliato, who will change by moving to Rally4: in 2024 they finished 11th and 12th respectively!
Other names to highlight
Among the other crews, some are worthy of special mention: Andrea Boatti from Pavia, already a protagonist of the CIAR Junior 2024, shows up for a test before the Italian events. Present is the winner of the Yaris GR 2023 Trophy, Di Giovanni from Lazio (Peugeot 208) and the strong Frenchman Benjamin Boulenc, first in the Clio d’oltralpe Trophy and here competing with a Toyota trophy version. A glorious name is that of Maria Paola Fiorio, daughter of the world champion gr.N and vice world champion Alex and granddaughter of Cesare, winning team manager of the Lancia team in rallies and of Ferrari in Formula 1: after professional golf, Maria Paola will be at her fourth rally of her life! She will not be the only female driver in the race: Asia Vidori from Alessandria was at the start of the entire 2024 women’s Italian championship; now her season will start from Varese!
Historic
There will certainly be a fight among the six historic cars present: the Larian Martinelli on a Ford Cosworth will try to battle with the Porsche of Richiardone and the Peugeot 205 of Vella, Avesani and Marignan; be careful not to underestimate the new entry Francabandiera (FIAT 131 Abarth Alitalia) which after having caressed the podium of the Laghi in the regularity, will debut in the historic category.